Eric Allen, of NewYorkJets.com, reports New York Jets P Ben Graham participated in the team's mandatory minicamp Thursday, June 5. Graham had a couple of his punts downed at the 1-yard line during special teams drills.

Joseph White, of the Associated Press, reports New York Jets P Ben Graham struggled badly during the team's preseason game Saturday evening, Aug. 19. He produced a 7-yard shank on his first attempt, and then later launched an 8-yarder at the end of a bizarre play. Graham at first looked as if he were going to run the ball on a fake, then, just before reaching the line of scrimmage, he booted the ball diagonally well into the stands.

The Melbourne Herald Sun reports New York Jets P Ben Graham would like to see the team sign Australian football player Jason Akermanis. Jets' head coach Eric Mangini has called on Graham to help bring another Australian sportsman to the NFL club. "The New York Jets are in a unique situation with coach Mangini obviously spending time in Australia," Graham said Saturday, May 20. "He wants me to find someone that can help our team." Akermanis is one player on the Jets' radar. "He's one name that's been mentioned," Graham said. Graham said the Jets had studied tapes of Akermanis and his pace and skill were attractive to the club.

Craig Hutchinson, of The Sydney Morning Herald, reports the New York Jets have signed P Ben Graham to a long-term contract. The deal is a six-year, $5.17 million contract. Graham decided to sign a long-term deal, which includes bonuses and incentives. "I'm just excited that I'm going to be punting for the New York Jets in the best city in America for the next six years," said Graham.

Craig Hutchinson of the Herald Sun, reports New York Jets P Ben Graham was offered a seven-year, $7 million contract by the team, but he turned it down to take his chances after the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement is struck. Graham's representatives this week rejected the deal, hoping to cash in when the Jets relieve some of their salary cap burden after the March 1 deadline. Graham did sign a new deal Tuesday, Jan. 3, but the details were not released. Graham refused to discuss the contract negotiations, but said: "I want to be the punter for the long term for the New York Jets and it's great that they want me around."

Randy Lange, of the Bergen Record, reports New York Jets P Ben Graham has a few unique methods of punting that provide various spins on the ball, making it more difficult for opposing returners to field the ball. Graham, a 31-year old from Australia, had three of his 18 punts muffed during the exhibition season this summer. "If we're backed up," Graham said, "I'll kick what we call [in Australia] a torpedo or spiral. Here they call it a punt." Graham's unique style and control on end-over-end punts can potentially have a significant role for the Jets' special teams coverage units this year. "Because punt returners here aren't used to catching a ball that drops from the sky like that," Graham said, "they might find it a little difficult."

Tom Rock, of Newsday, reports New York Jets Ps Micah Knorr and Ben Graham continue to battle for the team's punting job with no clear cut frontrunner emerging so far. Up to this point in the preseason, the opportunities have been split about evenly. The two get the same amount of reps during practices, and in the two preseason games Graham has kicked eight of the 13 punts. Both are left-footed, which presents problems for returners due to abnormal spins, but Graham has befuddled receivers with his end-over-enders and wobbly spirals. "You're looking at two somewhat different people," Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff said of the veteran Knorr and rookie Graham, a convert from Australian League Football. "I wouldn't say one has a leg up. I think it's been a good competition."

NewYorkJets.com reports New York Jets rookie P Ben Graham has been interested in trying to make it to the NFL since 1997, when he was midway through his Australian Rules Football career. "Since 1997 I have shown a keen interest in the NFL and in the offseason I got used to the different balls, learned the rules, and watched as many games as I could," Graham, 31, said. "I even came over to the states and went to games, so it's been an eight year process." Graham added the biggest adjustment to the NFL game has been the fact that he doesn't have to so much on the field. "In Australian rules football every player has to do everything," he said. "They have to run, they have to mark and they have to tackle. Here it is so specific."

New York Jets P Ben Graham wrote in his diary at The Age he is starting to feel comfortable with New York and his teammates. Graham is trying to make the transition from the Australian Rules Football League to the NFL. He said the team's May minicamp was a bit more intense than he originally thought it would be, but it was a crucial stage in his development. He said several NFL clubs have already inquired about other Australians trying out in numerous positions. Graham has learned to be a holder for PK Mike Nugent. Graham learned this week he's still with the team as June begins and training camp draws near.